Academic Convocation and Burger Bash

Academic Convocation is the official university welcome in which students are greeted by the university chancellor, academic deans, administrators, staff, and faculty.  It is the major academic event for incoming students and promotes academic success and educational attainment.   New students receive a commemorative pin and are formally inducted into the student body with the recitation of the New Student Pledge.  The 2008 Academic Convocation will be held at 4:00 pm on Sunday, August 24th in Bud Walton Arena.  Following Academic Convocation at 5:00 pm, Burger Bash officially welcomes all new and returning students “back to school” with food and entertainment at "The Gardens", the newly-constructed 6-acre park opposite Bud Walton Arena.

Learning Outcomes

o   Get new students excited about the out of classroom experiences, such as team research.

o   Use Convocation as a student starting gun.  Set the tone for student expectations at the collegiate level.

o   Serve as a formal introduction to upper level staff, faculty, and administrators.  Show faculty and staff united as a team.  Students will then know that they can go to anyone to receive support.

o   Help students understand that Convocation is a bookend with Commencement.

o   Plant the seed for students to consider why they are here.  They are here for graduation and transformation.

o   Express the dignity of the higher education experience with the expectation that students will emerge with a good sense of how to manage themselves.

o   Highlight academic research via collaboration between faculty and students.